The Anaerobic Digestion & Bioresources Association (ADBA) has criticised the UK government's newly announced Great British Grid, arguing that its sole focus on electricity infrastructure leaves out green gas as a way of cutting the cost of the energy transition.
The plan, announced by the Prime Minister on 29 September, centres on building and connecting new electricity infrastructure, with the aim of bringing British energy prices closer to those in Europe.
ADBA pointed to its December 2024 report, The Role of Green Gas in Net Zero: Cutting the Cost of Keeping the Lights On. Using the same energy system assumptions as the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero and the National Energy System Operator, the analysis found that greater use of British biomethane could reduce the cost of reaching net zero by £298 billion by 2050, equivalent to £415 a year for every household.
The savings come largely from avoided investment in electricity transmission, since biomethane can use the gas network that already exists.
The association also cited the National Audit Office, which has estimated that upgrading the UK's electricity transmission network will cost around £70 billion. According to ADBA, delays to those upgrades stem less from funding or competition than from skills shortages and supply chain constraints, with equipment ordered today unlikely to be delivered before 2029.
ADBA is calling for uncommitted money from Great British Energy's existing funding to be directed to biomethane production. It estimates this could bring an extra 10 TWh of energy online by 2030, which could be used for heating, industry and reducing reliance on imported LNG from the US.
Chris Huhne, Chair of ADBA, said: "The Prime Minister says the energy market is broken, and he's right. But his answer is to pour more money into wires while overlooking a British fuel that can cut the cost of net zero by £415 a year for every household through pipes already under our feet.
"France has some of the cheapest electricity in Europe and yet is growing its green gas sector faster than anywhere else because Paris understands the value of a storable, reliable and ready renewable fuel. Green gas can keep the lights on during long winter nights when there is no sun and little wind.
"Biomethane is made here from our own waste, runs through pipes we have already paid for, and protects families from the imported gas shocks driving up their bills.
"Building grid is necessary, but it is slow and expensive. Green gas is ready now. A government serious about closing the gap with Europe cannot keep leaving it out of the plan."
